It has been my wish for many years that a decentralised and people-oriented transformation of the energy system, combined with electricity stored and transported through a good charging infrastructure, and using electricity in the form of e-mobility, will bring benefits to nature, to us human beings and all flora and fauna.”

Joan Hendrik Rüschkamp, Proprietor

Further reading & downloads

Rüschkamp Motor Dealers

E-pioneers with a future

Autohaus Rüschkamp (Rüschkamp Motor Dealers) in Lüdinghausen in the Münsterland district is a real pioneer in e-mobility: with around 200 employees, the business shows not only that sustainable businesses can be commercially successful, but also how electromobility can be used in the business. Electricity from renewable sources, a network for products to promote the energy transition and participation in a research project all show that e-mobility is an engine for progress. And that’s not all: the company has set itself new climate protection goals to further extend its commitment and responsibility.

Founded in 1825 with head office in Lüdinghausen, the family business has five branches in NRW – Lüdinghausen, Selm, Dortmund, Werne and Lünen. From the early 1990s, the company committed itself to e-mobility, as well as distributing electric vehicles and providing repair services in its own workshops.

Climate protection objective:

Installation of battery storage facilities in all branches

Development of an e-charging point system linked to the balancing energy market

Reduction of energy consumption at all dealerships

Deadline: end 2019Project Leader: Joan Rüschkamp, Proprietor

1 of 4

Photo: Tim Wilke / Autohaus Rüschkamp

Photovoltaic installations are available at all five branches, producing decentralised electricity which is partly stored and used for the charging infrastructure. This one is in the form of a car-port.

Efficient and climate-friendly

Each branch provides its customers with a charging point they can use for free. These charging points are fed from the PV installations on the roofs of the company dealerships, because the firm sees e-mobility as an extension of renewable energies. Altogether, the five PV installations have a total output of 400 kilowatts peak. At the branch in Selm, a combined heat and power plant (CHP) also generates green electricity, which is used on site. Rüschkamp is also testing the profitability of a battery storage facility at its Werne branch, with the intention of providing them at its other branches to increase efficiency. To reduce electricity consumption, all branches were converted early on to LED lighting. This enabled the Lüdinghausen branch to reduce its consumption by 30 per cent within six years. In the future, measures will be introduced to achieve further savings. Apart from its core business as a motor dealer, the company is working to extend e-mobility. To strengthen the necessary infrastructure for this expansion, Rüschkamp is working on an e-charging system linked to the balancing energy market which will also be able to provide the standard power charge.

E-mobility network

The company has branched out into a new area with the creation of ‘enomo’: this network provides information and distributes products and services from its medium-sized partners relating to the transformation of the energy system and energy independence as well as e-mobility. The company also uses a blog to provide information on renewable energy and e-mobility to a wider audience. It is also engaged in political activity: Managing Director Joan Hendrik Rüschkamp campaigned for the introduction of the ‘e-blue stickers’, an idea discussed in the Federal Parliament which became the marker for e-vehicles.

Photo: Sebastian Wolligandt

It has been my wish for many years that a decentralised and people-oriented transformation of the energy system, combined with electricity stored and transported through a good charging infrastructure, and using electricity in the form of e-mobility, will bring benefits to nature, to us human beings and all flora and fauna.”